Prince Harry has been BANNED from going back to war in Afghanistan despite his desperation to return, The People can reveal.

Royal sources say Harry's presence for a second time in the battle against the Taliban would present an unacceptable risk to him and his comrades.

But the 24-year-old Prince - a lieutenant in the armoured Blues and Royals regiment - has NOT been ruled out of serving in other troublespots apart from Iraq.

Risks

The source said: "Harry is absolutely desperate to get back to Afghanistan because he is a soldier through and through and he believes there is a vital job to do there. But he is being let down gently because the riskswould be even greater this time."

Harry was hastily withdrawn from Afghanistan's blood-soaked Helmand province in February after an American website broke a news embargo on his posting there.

The al-Qaeda-loving Taliban put a bounty on the royal's head and vowed to capture and behead him.

The source added: "Everybody in his family and his regiment believe he has thoroughly proved himself in every conceivable way as a soldier and he has every reason to be proud.

"Harry does not see things that way and thinks if he misses out on the most dangerous missions he will be seen as a lightweight soldier."

Harry's only consolation is that he and his squadron have been chosen to give troops heading to Iraq and Afghanistan a taste of how it feels to be under attack 24 hours a day.

A MoD spokesman said: "He will not be returning to Afghanistan for the foreseeable future."